Toothbrush vial



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April 18, 1961 F. R. REBSTOCK TOOTHBRUSH VIAL Filed April 25/ 1958 TOOTHBRUSH VIAL Fred R. Rebstock, Babylon, N.Y., assignor to Lever Brothers Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine Filed Apr. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 730,919 I 2 Claims. (Cl. 132-84) This invention, generally, relates to containers and, more particularly, to an elongated container such as a toothbrush vial or the like for enclosing a plurality of articles in 'a predetermined relation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a container for enclosing a plurality of articles in a predetermined relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for enclosing an article, which container provides a space for enclosing another article in predetermined relation with the first article. 1

Still another object of the invention is to provide an elongated container uniquely adapted toenclose a toothbrush and having a means for positioning a second article within the container in a predetermined spaced relation with the toothbrush.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush vial having a separator means which permits a toothbrush to pass therethrough but maintains a second article in one end of the vial.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush vial having a removable separator, which separator permits a toothbrush to pass therethrough but maintains another article in one end of the vial.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a separator for positioning in a toothbrush vial intermediate of the closed ends to maintain an article out of contact with the bristles of a toothbrush.

Generally, containers embodying the invention may include two elongated tubular members, each being closed at one end and open at the opposite end and adapted to be fitted together to form a' complete container or vial for receiving a toothbrush or other elongated article extending into .both tubular members and having a separator or partition positioned between the tubular members to retain another article in one of the tubular members of the vial.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view in elevation of a container showing the interrelationship of various parts which are constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a separator constructed according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a top plan View of the assembled component parts shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view along the line 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view along the line 5-5 in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, a container embodying the invention, indicated generally by the numeral 19, includes two elongated tubular members 20 and 21, each having one end closed and the other end open. The open ends 22 and 23 of the respective tubular members 20 and 21 are adapted to be fitted together, preferably in telescoping relation. The lower member, as viewed in Figure 1, has an extended portion 24 of reduced dimensions to fit within the open end 22 of the h 2,980,119 Patented Apr. 18,1961

2 upper member 20 to a point just short of the dotted line 25. A separator or partition is formed to fit, preferably, against the shoulder as represented by this dotted line 25.

The separator 10, in its preferred form (Figure 2), is provided with two spaced-apart and substantially parallel side portions 11 and 12 connected at one end by an end portion 13 to form a U-shaped frame. Disposed intermediate of the side portions 11 and 12 is a web member or partition 14 which is also fastened to the connecting end portion 13. This web 14 does not extend to the ends 16 and 17 of the parallel portions 11 and 12 of the separator but is terminated at some point short thereof.

As seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, the web 14 extends a distance of approximately two-thirds or three-fourths of the length of the side portions 11 and 12, but the invention is not limited to this distance. Also, this web 14 may be any desired thickness, even as thick as the side portions 11 and 12, if desired. It is desirable to have the web 14 relatively thin to conserve material and weight.

Disposed around the outer surfaces of the side portions 11 and 12, including the connecting end portion 13 of the separator 10, is a flange or shoulder 18. The actual dimensions of the separator 10 are such that the distance be tween the parallel side portions 11 and 12 is substantially equal to the inside dimension of the container into which it is to be fitted, and the distance between the flanges 18 on these opposite parallel side portions 11 and 12 is only slightly greater than the distance between the side portions themselves but is less than the outside dimension of the container.

As better seen in Figures 4 and 5 the separator 10 fits against a shoulder 25 within the upper member 20 and is held in position by the end 23 of the extended portion 24 of the lower portion 21 hearing thereagainst. This fit is a sliding engagement, and it has been found that the friction developed is sufficient to hold the two portions 20 and 21 of the container together.

When in position, the separator 10 divides the container 19 into two compartments 26 and 27, Figure 4, while at the same time it provides a passage for permitting an elongated article such as, for example, a toothbrush to pass from one compartment into the other. However, a second article as, for example, a small tube of tooth paste, is maintained in only one end of the container and, thus, is kept out of contact with the bristles of the toothbrush.

The material of which the separator 10 is made may be any desired rigid material such as a metal or a plastic, and it may be the same or different from the material of which the container 19 is made. Also, the cross-sectional configuration of the container 19 is not limited to the rectangular form shown in the drawing.

Such a container protects both a toothbrush therein and the tube and prevents the tube from coming into contact with and damaging the toothbrush bristles during transportation of the unit. It can be used to equal advantage in packaging other mu1ti-piece products, especially those including long and short articles and products with which premiums or samples of other products are to be displayed or supplied. Of course, it is understood that the construction of the invention is in no way limited to the types of articles to be enclosed therein, it being adaptable to many different products. Moreover, it should be noted that the separator 10 may be removed if, after purchase, only the brush is to be carried. The two sections 20 and 21 will still fit together in the same relationship to form a travel case.

The foregoing description is directed solely toward the construction illustrated, but it is to be understood that all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible are intended to be included, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

3 claim:

l. A container for enclosing a toothbrush and a separate shorter article in a predetermined relation comprising; elongated upper and lower tubular members, each member including inner and outer surfaces, a closed end portion, and an open end portion having free edges, said upper member having a peripheral recess in its inner surface at its open end portion to permit said upper member to telescope over said lower member to form a closed container, and an inner peripheral shoulder formed by said recess; and a readily removable separator comprising a web-portion formed to extend only partially across the open end of said lower member for dividing said containers into two communicating compartments, a substantially U-shaped frame having a base and arms encompassing said web-portion and having portions extending beyond the web-portion, said frame comprising downwardly extending flange portions on its arms and base telescopically and frictionally engaging with the inner surface of said lower member adjacent the open end thereof, said frame further comprising peripheral portions extending outwardly from its base and arms and formed to seat on the free edges of said lower member and adapted to be clamped between the free edges of said lower member and the peripheral shoulder of said upper member.

2. A container for enclosing a tooth brush and a separate shorter article in a predetermined relation comprising; elongated upper and lower tubular members, each member including inner and outer surfaces, a closed end portion,

4 and an open end portion having free edges, said upper member having a peripheral recess in its inner surface at its open end portion to permit said upper member to telescope over said lower member to form a closed-container, and an inner, peripheral shoulder formed by said recess; and a readily removable separator comprising a web-portion formed to extend only partially across the open end of said lower member for dividing said container into two communicating compartments, a substantially U- shaped frame-having a base and arms encompassing said web portion and having portions extending beyond the web portion, said frame comprising downwardly extending flange portions on its arms and base telescopically and fris tionally engaging with the inner surface of said lower member adjacent the open end thereof, and upwardly extending flange portions on its arms and base telescopically and frictionally engaging with the inner surface of said upper member, said frame further comprising peripheral portions extending outwardly from its base and arms and formed to seat on the free edges of said lower member and adapted to be clamped between the free edges of said lower member and the peripheral shoulder of said upper member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

